The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-04
THE MAINE STATE PRESS.
VOTING IN WASHINGTON TERRI
TORY.
A Picture Of Women's Suffrage that
Seems to be 0verdone.
ISpringfield Republican

ISprlngnel0 hepuDllcanl
Presently came family party, a man, wifi,
and three small children. And now from
every direction, as if by preconcerted ar
rangement, wagons drove up containing sim
liar hnnseholdev For these people had nc
servants with whom to leave their children
Not only were the little ones brought along.
but enormous jugs of milk and baskets OF
lunch. The bachelors scattered tmidly and
the ladies swarmed in upon us. moved the
benches around tue fire. blockaded the door
way and took entire possession of the premi-
ses. They were farmers wives, buxom, SEN
sible and energetic A more domestic scene
one seldom sees. Here mother nursing her
baby, there fond father trolling his infant
daughter, yonder lot of women exchanging
recipes for mixed pickles, and again an eager
group setting out lunch and passing pie and
sliced pork to their friends.
could not at first understand this invasion.
until learned that the school-house was the
one public resort for social purposes. Dances.
parties, singing schools, preaching and DO
litlcal meetings all were held there. A gath
erlng at the SchOOlhOuSe was the signal for a
general assemblage of friends, and the wom-
en- had evidently given more thought to this
lact than TO the original motive of the occa-
sion.
Still they came. By noon the building was
fairly packed, and the picnic appearance in
creased with every arrival. Biscuits, sand
wlches, cake, sanee, boiled eggs, canteens of
eoid yea were iaid out on every side, and the
babel wes confounding.
dn yo ;d iron t6agg iifgham and calicoes on the
His very best cow, The snow was -qVvss
all the poor thing got to eat was moss"
They say her victuals taste of pine gum
half the time. Drips from the pitch raft"
II pulled the poor childs tooth myself, So
WHO shall you vote for, Sue?"
ME? don't know. Jack amt here yet.
mamma! Give me some pie, tool'
"0h, Eliza, at the polls after all ?''
Eyes. Didn't want to come bit. Bill Is
Republican and told him I'd vote Demo-
cratic sure If he made me come. But he said
no matter, so long as we both vote for Spo-
kane Falls"
"The ground squirrels just ate us up alive
And we haul water two mile to cook with.
never was so discouraged"
''Poohl | guess we're every bit as sharp
as the men folks"
"Dou't vote for Spicer. They say he treats
his wife perfectly awfulw
"Cucumbers taste bitter that come from
that cold hill. Grow so slow you knowP'
During the momentary lull there appeared
in the doorway portly and venerable ranch
chow DIDO, John Melville. Brought your
wife?"
.sNo."
well, she's heap more sensible than the
rest of u.s."
''Too bad, Mr.. Melville. She promised me
to come and vote the prohibition ticket"
Little Milly Is sick. Wife had to stay
home," said portly John.
"Sick? What ails her?"
I'VE looked in the doctor hooks xesterdax
and made up our minds 1t was measles.
"Measlesw
s.Mercy!'' A panic was precipitated.
"Let me out of here?'
Sarah janet You come away from that
door,"
go way, John. Go'wayp
''Pm going right home" cries one.
$50 am |, j." echoed another.
And hustle OF preparation for Immediate
retreat arose.
Putin your votes before you leave, ladies, =
said the inspector. anxiously.
Indeed l won't. L never thought of this.
It's the last time I'll come to the polls"
And their apprehensions were not stilled
until we urged infectious John Melville &c
retire from the scene. This John did, pro
testing, however that his child was better
than yesterday and didn't have the measles
at all. But his explanation came too late.
and he was forced to stay far away beneath
the trees.
As nobody was voting and the schooi-roon
had become mere nursery ana restaurant,
made my way to the door for a breath q
fresh air and a respite from infantlle wall.
| ings. Shouts arose, "a dudep' "a dude J!
and looking through the trees l saw maj
approaching leading his horse. He at onc'
impressed me as the finest physical specimen
| had seen in the West. Tall and symmetri
cal. with classic features and rudy cheeks
he looked the incarnation Of manly strength
and beauty. He wore St0re-clOtheS and ;
hectic, being much more deliberately cla'
than any who had previously, arrived, an'
| was greeted j0vially by the assemblies
| pointed slyly to finger marks on the trouser
| of the newcomer imprinted in -four on eacl
| side. Evidently he too was bach an
| had made biscuits in the intervals OF toile
| duty, wiping his hands in the usual plae
| with Inconsistencies of habit.
| ANY women folks here yet" he aske
| neryously.
| The reason of his careful attire was at ono
| apparent, and everybody grinned. A youni
fellow stepped forward promptly.
"No. They hain't come yit. Expect 'eT
| every minute, better vote right off, so the
| can have the building when they git here.
An eager chorus rose, "Yes, Sam, put i
your vote and have it over with"
Sam took one of the proffered tickets an
| his friend escorted him toward the door. .
baby voice, suddenly piercing the roo
brought Sam to a halt.
"Only Mrs. Smith. She came few mir
utes ago with her baby. Waiting Tor Smltl
| guess" And from grove at one SIDE u
joker succeeded in marching Sam to the yer
| door.
Here Sam stopped aghast as he. looked
ON the roomful of wives and children: III
cheek blanched and he fairly staggered bac
tearing from the grasp of his comrade an
crying desperately. mo- No! won't go
therep' He retreated wildly to his hors
| Where going, Sam?"
'sPve got an errand over to Colby's.
back after WHILE" And amid the guffaN
of his fellow-citizens bashful Sam departe,
and was seen no more. Poor fellow Il
lost his vote.
81 tell you times is changedv' commente
man in blouse and overalls, leanin
against pine. ''When was a baby to HON
in Indianny, i recellect hearin' NAV and pa
talk this votin' business over. Il tell y
says the man to her, 4 wouldn't have We
to the polls nohow. You'd have to walk I
to the box through acrowd Of loafers q
smokin' pipes and starin' at We, and you
sink through the floor, He orto be he
now and see Sam.try to edge up to the ballo